Five carers at York care home sacked after inquiry into 'manual handling practices'

FIVE carers have been sacked at a York care home following an investigation into ‘manual handling practices’ with residents.

Three carers at Minster Grange in Haxby Road were originally suspended - along with a nurse- after a whistleblower had raised concerns about the care of residents.

Felicity Somerville, clinical and operations director for the home's owner, Lifestyle Care plc, has now said the investigation had found that five carers had been at fault and they were dismissed. However, the nurse was exonerated but subsequently left of their own volition, she said.

She revealed that the 'safeguarding incident' had been referred to police, but said this was a 'routine procedure' with this type of incident, and no further police action was required. She also stressed that no residents had been harmed.

The revelations come shortly after the home was criticised by the watchdog, The Care Quality Commission, over staffing levels, the care and welfare of residents and the management of medicines.

The daughter of a man at the home, Sue Sharpe, has also contacted The Press to raise concerns about aspect's of his care.

She claimed that on three separate occasions, she visited her father and found jugs of juice had been left in front of him but with no glass/cup to pour it into, and therefore he could not drink it.

She also claimed that to mark Wimbledon fortnight, residents were told they would be given strawberries and cream but, because of a problem in ordering, only one punnet turned up and therefore each resident only got one strawberry each, which upset them.

Ms Somerville said Mrs Sharpe had raised a number of issues through the formal complaints procedure, and the matter was in the process of being investigated internally by managers.

Meanwhile, the relative of another Minster Grange resident has contacted The Press in support of the home, saying her relative had always been treated with the utmost respect, courtesy, patience, kindness and gentleness by very caring staff.

"There has never been any problems with the medication," said the woman, who asked not to be identified. "The agency staff that I have known have been really kind and very good at their job.

" I cannot find fault with ANY of the staff, from the cleaners, kitchen staff, activity workers, maintenance man to the carer's and the nursing staff and I also include the reception staff too who are so helpful at any time."

*Lifestyles, a residential care home in Wentworth Road, Scarcroft Hill, has asked us to point out that it has no connection with Lifestyle Care plc, owner of Minster Grange.